Interagency Oversight Group of Logan County helping struggling families get the resources they need

Part of Colorado's Collaborative Management Program

Editor's note: This is the first in a three part series examining the Interagency Oversight Group of Logan County and the work they do.

STERLING — For struggling families, being able to get the services they may need, in a timely manner, can make all the difference in their ability to get back on track. The Interagency Oversight Group of Logan County is working to make sure families have that ability, by facilitating collaboration between county agencies and service providers.

The IOG is part of Colorado's Collaborative Management Program (CMP), which is outlined by statute in House Bill 1451.

The CMP's mission is to personalize service delivery to families by facilitating collaboration between county agencies and relevant service providers during a family's time of need.

HB 1451, which was passed in 2004, mandates that the state of Colorado will set aside a cash fund on an annual basis, from which “incentive funds” will be returned to counties who choose to participate in the program.

In 2005, John Draxler, with the 13th Judicial District Probation Department, who is the chairman of the Logan County's IOG, attended a meeting in Denver to learn more about the program.

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“They just gave us an overview of what IOG's were, what the process was going to be, what the amount of money was,” he said. “We really didn't jump on board with anything until Karla Rosas, from Centennial (Mental Health Center), decided that would be a good thing to try to get some of that money for us.”

Logan County began the process of participation in 2006.

Draxler, Rosas and Kris Schell, a social worker with RE-1 Valley School District, who serves as secretary for the group, started having meetings to get an IOG setup for the county. About three years ago a large meeting took place with various people from different agencies throughout the county to see how much interest was there. It turned out there was a lot.

“(We) kind of got a focus of where everybody wanted to go,” Draxler said.

In addition to Draxler and Schell, the IOG officers also include Vice Chair Lindy Barnhill, regional operations director CMHC, and Treasurer Erin Rinaldo, core services supervisor with the Department of Social Services.

A memorandum of understanding for the Logan County IOG was officially established in the fiscal year 2009-2010.

The county received its first funding allocation two years ago, which they used to hire Rhonda Conger to serve as project coordinator.

“Now we actually have somebody running the whole program and helping with our kids and reducing truancy, which is our number one goal this year,” Draxler said. “(Our) secondary goal is to reduce substance abuse in those families with kids who are truant.”

While the number of counties with IOG's is growing, from six when the CMP first started -- to 28 in fiscal year 2012 and 31 so far in this fiscal year -- the state's cash fund to divide up between the counties has stayed pretty much the same.

In the first year, there was $3.2 million to be divided among the counties; in fiscal year 2012, there was around $2 million. Logan County received $47,000 for fiscal year 2009-2010 and $42,940 for fiscal year 2010-2011, they should know the amount they'll receive for 2011-2012 later this month.

Conger said it appears the cash fund will continue to be available, but there is concern that that money won't be enough to sustain the programs.

“The players seem to fairly confident that this will continue to be available, but most of the programs are not necessarily sustainable if this is the only funding that's ever going to be available,” she said. “There's a lot of conversation about how to get support through the legislature to allow other funding sources to be part of that pot of money.”

During the 2011-2012 school year IOG served 54 youth and so far this school year they have 30 active cases, with several pending referrals.

The incentive funds earned by Logan County allowed the county to do a variety of things, including establish the T.E.A.M. (Teach, Empower, Achieve, Manage) Program, which connects families with resources and services that can help them to reach their goals. The T.E.A.M. Program is offered free of charge to youth and families who feel they may benefit from this service.

Additionally, the funds allow agencies to provide families with short-term financial assistance with things like registration fees for school activities, transportation, necessary equipment for success in school or employment, tuition for credit recovery, and many other things.

This assistance is offered on a case by case basis, and is subject to the availability of funds. The funds are capped at a maximum of $250 per student or $500 per family, though exceptions could be made if a situation arises.

From July 1 through Nov. 28, the IOG spent $1,793 helping families with school supplies, fitness classes, prenatal healthcare, dental healthcare, athletic fees, tuition for classes at NJC, tuition for GED classes, clothing and shoes, transportation, bedding, mental health care, activity fees and a government issued ID card for a student to take a GED test.

In Saturday's Journal-Advocate learn what the IOG is doing to meet their goal to reduce truancy.